Skein and method and machine for producing the same



Dec. 29, 1931, R. P. DRAKE SKEIN AN METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PRODUCIiIG THE SAME Filed April 22, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet v1 FIRST REK 89 FIVE AIID INVENTOR Drake ATTORNEYS R. P. DRAKE Dec. 29, 1931.

SKEIN AND METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Filed April 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ATTOR N EYS Dec. 29, 1931 P, DRAKE 1,838,813

SKEIN AND METHOD AND MACHINE'FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Filed April 197-59 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gnu nt, g a

INVENTOR Rune/l P. llra/f e ATTORN EYS Dgc. 29, 1931. R. P. DRAKE 1,833,313

SKEIN AND METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Filed April 22, 1929 5 Sheets-Shet 4 INVENTOR Russell P. Drake ATTORN EY5 Dec. 29, 1931.

R. F" DRAKE SKEIN AND METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Filed April 22, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet I l'Nv'NToR Russell P. .Dra/fe ATTORNEYS erations; Preferably the-lacing cords are inserted at 90", intervals around the periphery ofthe skein. a

Patented Dee. 2a, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE",

Rns'sELn r. DRAKE, ornocxroan, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'ro IBARBER-OOLMAN comm, ornocxronnnmnors, A conronn'rroiv or ILLINOIS sxnnv AND METHOD AND macnnvn son rnonucme THE SAME Application filed April'22, 1929. Serial No. 356,929;

Rayon, tram, organzine and similar material are ordinarily wound into skeins to facilitate the performance of dyeing and other operations. Such 'skeinsare in theform of a wide band in which the yarn traverses from side to side as it is wound to produce a suc-. cession of overlapping helices. In order to I prevent the yarn from becoming tangled during dyeing and other operations, the

skein is laced, that is to say, a comb or the like is inserted into the skein to divide the latter into a plurality of-bundles of strands,

the bundles being separated by the, spaces through which the comb teeth extend, such spaces being large enough to.permit of the insertion of a cord, the cord being laced around the bundles in such away that each bundle is completelysurrounded by the lacing cord. The skein is laced at a .sufiicient number of points around the periphery of the skein to hold the strands in place so as to prevent tangling during subsequent op- It isdesirable to eliminate the operation of forming openings in the skein through the insertion of a comb or'the like, since the yarn is so delicate that it isliable-to be damaged by the .comb teeth. It is also desirable to be able to employ automatic mechanism for the lacing operation,'but'. it will be understood 7 that if the lacing is to be done with a minimum of attention on the part of the operator the groups .of openings must be substantial- 1y alike and must be equidistantly located around the circumference of the skein.

One of the objects of the present invention is 'to produce askein having a plurality of groups of openings formed therein by the skeining operation,- said groups beingv equidistantly spaced circumferentially of the skein openings, each group being of approx- .imately the same size and being uniformly spaced apart anddefining bundles composed of approximately the same number of strands, and all groups being alikein the snacin'g of the openings in' a direction par- 'allel' to the axis of the skein, thus facilitatin manual lacing of the skeins, if desired, an

operation at a speed much higher than any heretofore attained. v

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmental left-hand end elevationof a skein-reeling machine embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. '2 is a plane development of a rotary cam used to reciprocate the yarn traverse guides. v

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine, certain parts being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating the stop mechanism.

Fig.5 is a plan view of said mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a. fragmental view illustrating means under the control of the operator for placing the clutch in neutral position.

Fig. 5 is a section on line b?) of Fig.- 4. Fig. .6 is a fragmental plan view of the yarn traverse mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view online 7-7 of Fig. 3.

- Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a; fragmental view of the manual during one revolution of the cam and five and one-quarter revolutions of the reel.

means for collapsing and distending the reel.

.-Figs. 11, 12' and 13 illustrate the same form of winding, but show each as being advanced beyond the lastpreceding Fig. 14 is a plane development of the windings produced during fpur consecutive revolutions of the cam. In other words, Fig. 14

shows the windings of Figs. 10, 11', 12 and-13 superposedupon one another.

The embodiment herein shown of the invention comprises a supporting frame formed of two end supports 1 and 2, the up per ends of which are connected together at A the front and rear by the channel pieces 3 and 4, respectively. Two brackets 5- and 6 rising from the end supports land 2, respectively, support the larger part of the mechanism. These brackets extend above the reel and serve to support a track (not shown) on which the automatic skein-lacing mechanism (not shown) is mounted'to travel.

On a horizontal cross bar 7 (Figs. 3 and so that the yarn may be drawn off the upper end of the spool. In order to prevent the {3m unwinding from each of the spools from coming entangled with that of an adjacent spool or from fouling on some adjacent portion of the machine frame, a vertical partition plate 9 is secured to the right-hand side of each bracket 8.

From the cross bar 7 near its left'and right ends rise vertical supporting brackets 10 and 11 to which is secured a horizontal cross bar 12. Immediately above each of the brackets 8 the cross bar 12 carries means for guiding the yarn and, if desired, means for tensioning the yarn or equalizing the tension thereof, and means for clearing the yarn of gouts, etc. Since such guiding, tensioning and clearing meansmay be of any desired nature, none will be herein disclosed in-detall but has merely been indicated in the drawings at 13.

The reel or fly 14 on which the several skeins are simultaneously wound is rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 15 which is firmly clamped to the bracket While the reel may be constructed in various ways, I have herein shown it as comprising a hub or sleeve 16 (Fig. 8) which is rotatably mounted upon the stud shaft 15 by means of ball bearings 17. Integral with the ends of the hub 16 are bifurcated arms 18 in which are pivoted links 19 and 20. To the outer ends of each pair of.corresponding links 19 and 20 is pivoted'one of =the.four reel arms 21. Each of the links 20is provided with an outward extension 22 by means of which the links 19 and 20 are swung to collapse and 'distend thereel. The means for thus operating said links may be of anypreferred character, that I herein'shown comprising links 23 pivoted to extensions 22 and to a handle 24f Said handle is fixed-to a guide rod 25 which is slidable in ac'ap 26-gthat is rigidly secured to the right-hand end of the hub 16.

Figs-8 illustrates the reel in its normal or distended condition. It will be noted that the links 19 and 20 are not parallel, consequently when the handle 24 is drawn to the right, the right-hand ends of the reel arms 21 will be moved nearer to the axis of the reel than the left-hand ends of said arms, thereby facilitating the removal of the skeins from the right-hand unsupported end of the reel. The normal position of the links 20 is determined by contact of the extensions 22 with stop portions 27 on the reel arms 21. When the reel is being driven at normal winding speed, centrifugal force holds the reel in its normal or distended condition. To prevent accidental collapse of the reel at other times, there may be provided, if desired, a latch 28 (Fig. 9) pivoted on the handle 24 at 29 and having a hooked end adapted to slip into and enga e with an angular member 30 secured to the cap 26. An expansive spring 31 holds the latch 28 in engagement with the member 30. When the handle 24 is grasped in the hand of the operator the latch 28 is swung out of engagement with the member 30. Excessive reclcollapsing movement of .the handle is prevented by engagement of the head 32 on the guide rod 25 with the inner end of the cap 26. One of the reel arms 21 is provided with a series of spring clamping devices 33, one for each of the skeins to be formed, for attaching the beginning end of the yarn to the reel preparatory to forming the skeins.

Any preferred means may be employed to rotate the reel 14 and actuate the mechanisms of the machine. Herein I have shown a drive shaft 34 (Fig. 5) which is driven from a source of power not shown. A spur gear wheel 35 has a hub 36 which is rotatably and slidably mounted upon the drive shaft 34. Said spur gear meshes with another spur gear 37 (Fig. 1) which in turn meshes with a pinion 38 (Fig. 8) that is fixed .to the lefthand end of the hub 16 of the reel. Clutch means of any preferred nature may be employed to connect the gear wheel 35 to the drive shaft 34 at will. Herein I have shown a clutch disk 39 (Fig. 5) fixed to the drive shaft 34 and adapted to engage afriction clutch surface on the gear wheel 35. 'Opposite the clutch disk 39 is a stationary brake disk 40 adapted to be engaged by a friction surface on the gear wheel 35. Means is provided for sliding thegear wheel 35 into and out of engagement with the friction drive disk 39 and the friction brake disk 40. Herein I have shown the right-hand end of the hub 36 as being rotatable in. a ring 41 that has diametrically opposite studs 42 (Fig. 4) which are pivotally mounted ina bifurcated arm or yoke 43. Said yoke is pivotally mounted upon a vertical stub shaft 44 which is pivoted in bearings 45 (Fig. 1) in the machine'frame. A tJ-shaped lever 46 (Fig. 4) is rigidly secured to the stub shaft 44 above and below the hub of the yoke 43 and is yieldingly connected to said yoke. As shown in to the lower end of the lever 66 normally holds 'Fig. 5, the yoke 43 has a horizontal extension 47 which is connected to the lever 46 by means of a bolt 48. An expansive spring 49 interposed between the arm 46 and the extension 47 normally holds said arm and'extension separated a slight distance.

Means is provided which tends to move the arm 46 and the yoke '43 in the direction to disengage the spur gear 35 from the driving clutch disk 39 and press saidgear wheel againstthe brake disk-40. Said means includes a lever 50 (Fig. 4) fixed to the lower portion of the stub shaft 44 and a contractile spring 51 anchored to the machine frame and connected to the arm 50. In order that theclutch and brake may be manually operated,

- I provide a hand lever 52 fixed to a vertical spindle 53 which is supported in the machine frame, the lower end. of said spindle having fixed thereto .a crank arm 54 which is connected to the arm 50 by means of a link 55.

The 'means for holding the clutch in thrown-in condition, comprises a trip lever 56 (Fig. 5) pivoted in the machine frame on the axis 57, said lever having a projection 58 which is adapted to engage the arm 46and hold the lever in clutch-engaging position,

the gear wheel beingthen pressed against the clutch disk 39 by the spring 49.

Means of any preferred character may be providedto sense the breakage or exhaustion of any of the supply yarns and to cause withdrawal of the lug'58 from the arm 46 order to permit the spring 51 to throw out the clutch'and apply the brake. In the present instance 'I have shown for each of the supply yarns a feeler or drop wire 59 (Figs. 3, 4'and 7) having a broadened upper end so that it may remain in contact withthe yarn while the latter is being reciprocated or traversed. The feeler 59 ispivoted in a bracket 60 (Fig. 7) securedto the cross bar 12 above and adjacent to each of the devices. 13. Rigid with the 'pivot'of. the feeler 59 is an arm 61 the lower end of which is in v the form' of a hook 62. i The hook 62 is adapted cam follower a m 8 which is pivoted inthe machine frame at 69. On the cam. follower "arm 68 is a roller stud 70 that runs in a cam groove 71. Said groove is formed in the side 55 chore of a spur gear wheel 72 which is-fixed upon a.

shaft 73 rotatably mounted in the machine frame. The spur. gear wheel 72 meshes with a pinion 74 which is rigid with the intermediate (gear 37. A 'contractile spring 75 anin the machine frame and connecteda stop portion 76 (Fig.5 on said lever in contact with a stop portion 77 on the cam follower arm 68. The trip lever 56 is connected to the lever 66 at a point adjacent to the axis $39 1rgf r'the cam follower arm 68 by means of a In the normaloperation of the machine the gear wheel 72 is continuously rotate d,

thereby continuously swinging the cam fol lower arm 68 upon its axis 69. Inasmuch as the lever 66 isv connected to the cam follower arm 68 at 67 and is held against the stop 77 of the cam follower arm by the spring 75, it will be seen that the cam follower arm 68 and the lever 66' will normally swing as a unit upon the' axis 69, whereby the upper end of the lever 66 will swing the crank arm 65 and thereby oscillate the notched rock shaft 64. In the event of breakage .or exhaustion of any of the yarns being wound, the

corresponding feeler 59 will be free to swing forward and downward, thereby placing its hook 62 in contact-with the-rock shaft64. Assoon as the notch 63 arrives into" register with thehook 6 2,- the latter drops thereinto and thus stops the rock shaft 64. Since the upper end of the lever 66 is then held by the stationary crank arm 65, continuing rotation of the cam 71 'causes the lever 66 to swing on the axis of the lower end of the crank arm 65, the spring 75 yielding as the point 67 moves' rearwardly, that is to" say, to the'left in Fig. 4. "The rearward movement thus imparted to the lower portion A of the lever 66 causes the trip lever 56 to be.

spring 51 throws out the clutch" and applies the brake.

Due to the very high winding speed of this, machine a loose yarnend, even if from an swung in the direction to withdraw the de- I tent 58 from the lever" 46, whereupon the exhausted spool, islsure to be wound on the reel befor'ejthe stop mechanism just described "can bring the reel to a standstill. According- 1y, whenever it is necessary to connect the yarn end from a spool-t0 the loose end on ,the skein the operator is obliged to rotate the reel by handin order that she may beable to find and pick up the loose end. To permit rotation of the reel when the machine has been stopped through the operation of the stop mechanism, means is provided wherebythe I operator can readily move the gear wheel 35 out of engagement with the brake disk 40 and into a neutral position between the brake disk and the clutch disk 39. The means.

herein shown for this purpose includes an upturned flange. 79 (Figs. 5 and 5) on the extension 47 of the yoke 43. In the flange .79

is a notch 80 the sides of which flare out- 7 wardly toward the top. -A bell crank 81] against the rear wall of the notch force the gear Wheel 35 away from the brake disk 40 and into a neutral position. The arm 85 of the. bell crank 81 is connected by means of a link 86 to the crank'arm 87 of a treadle 88. A contractile spring 89 normally holds the treadle 88 and the. bell crank arm 83 elevated. "When the operator finds it necessary manually to turn the reel in order to locate'a loose thread and she may temporarily throw the gear wheel 35 out of engagement with the brake disk 40 by stepping on the treadle 88, thereby forcing the roller 84: down tothe bottom of the notch 80 and thus'moving the yoke 43 sufficiently to position the gear wheel 35 midway between the clutch disk 39 and the brake disk 40. The brake and clutch con trolling mechanism just described is also a safeguard against the machine being restarted by anyone while the operator is working on the reel, for in order to turn the reel by hand the operator must keep the treadle de' pressed, thus preventing the clutch from being thrown in.

When starting the machine the operator swings the hand lever 52 toward the right (that is to say, counterclockwise, Fig. 5) to throw in the clutch, it being necessary to hold the hand lever in such position. until the reel has attained such speed that the yard tension suffices to hold upthe feelers 59. In the rotation of the grooved cam 71 sufficient movement is imparted to the notched shaft 64 in a counterclockwise"direction (.as viewed in Fig. 4) to release the pressure upon the hooks 62, thus permitting the feelers 59 to rise into their normal position under the tension of the yarn and thus permitting the lever 66 and the cam follower arm 68 again to swing as a unit. The moment this occurs the spring 7 5 (Fig. 4) places the projection 58 in position'to hold the arm 46 inclutchengaging position. The operator may then remove her hand from the starting lever 52..

The means for traversing the yarn to produce skeins of the desired formation comprises guides 90 (Fig. 6) having a portion which is mounted for lateral reciprocation in a guide rail 91. In the form herein shown the guide rail consists of two bars 92 and 93 (Fig.

7), the upper portions of which bars are spaced apart to form a guide groove for the yarn guides 90. The lower portion of said guide groove communicates with a longitudinal guide groove 94 whichcontains a traverse bar 95 to which the yarn guides 90 are secured.

To the front side of the bar 92 is secured a horizontally extending plate 96 (Figs. 3 and 7), the upper portion of which is formed to provide guard plates 97 (Figs. 6 and 7).- These guard plates underlie the traverse guides 90 and are of such form and spacing as to provide throatways 98 to guide yarn into engagement with the traverse guides 90.

As shownin Fig. 6, the rear portions of the guard plates 97 are so formed as to provide space or clearance for the yarn in its lateral reciprocations.

On the lower edge of the plate 96 are formed guard plates 99 which span the spaces between adjacent feelers 59 and thus prevent yarn from entering said spaces. In the guard plates 99 are slots 100 (Fig. 3) into which extend projections 101 on the ends of the broadened upper portions of the feelers.

The means for reciprocating the traverse the shaft 73 and having a periphery 103 of the form shown in the plane development illustrated in Fig. 2. The traverse bar 95 is connected to the periphery of the cam wheel 102 through the medium of a cam follower carriage 104 (Figs. 1 and 6) which is mounted to slidein grooved guides 105. Upon the lower side of the carriage 104 are mounted rollers 106, these rollers being-:mounted on vertical axes and being arranged to enga e opposite sides of the periphery 103. s shown in Fig. 2,-the periphery of the cam wheel 102 is of such form as to cause six strokes of the yarn traverse guides in each rotation of the cam wheel. The gear ratio between the reel and the cam wheel is such that the reel is rotated five and one-quarter revolutions in each revolution of the cam wheel Figs. 10 and 11 it will beseen that the wind-' ing shown in Fig. 11 is displaced or advanced 90 with reference to the winding shown in Fig. 10. To aid, in tracing the convolutions of yarn,-the starting end of the yarnin Fig. 10 has been marked a; the points marked 7) and 0 are identical; the points marked'd and e are identical, etc. Thus the c'onvolutions during a complete cycle of four cam revolutions and twenty-one reel revolutions may be traced from the starting point at a in Fig. 10 to the point of completionv atw' in Fig. 13. It may be noted that the yarn continues from [in Fig. 10 to m in Fig. 11; and from w in Fi 11 to in Fig. 12, and from j in Fig.

. 12 to k in 'Fig. 13. I

The points at which strokes of the traverse yarn guide are completed during each complete cycle of four cam revolutions'and twenty-one reel revolutions are indicated by numbers enclosed in circles. For example, in passingfrom the point a to the point marked 1 enclosed in a circle the yarn has made one complete stroke in passing from the point 1 being equidistantly spaced, and corresponding openings of all the groups being in the to point 2 another stroke has been completed, and so on.

Upon examinin Fig. 10 it will be noted that the winding t erein illustrated does not comprise four groups of four openings each; but that on the contrary, in the group of opemngs at the region indicated by the line L there are. only three openings; at the line L there are only two openings; at the line L there are four openings, and at the line L there are also four openlngs. The superposing upon said winding of another identical winding. advanced 90 increases the number of openings in each of the regions L and L to four. The superposition ofthe windings produced in four consecutive rotations of the cam and twenty-one consecutive rotations of the reel produces the skein constructionshownin Fig. 14, where it will be noted that in each of-the regions L, L, L and L there is a group of four diamond-shaped openings of approximately the same size, the groups same plane transverse to the axis of the skein.

The openings of each group divide the strands into fivebundles of approximately the same number of strands, there beingnot fewer than four nor-more than five strands in each bundle. The dot and dash lines extending transversely in Fig. 2 correspond to the lines L, L, L and L of Fig. 10. The dot and dash lines extending longitudinally in Fig: 2 correspond to the planes which extend transversely of the reel and pass through the bundles of strands. defined by the lacing openings.

By reason of the formation of such openings in the skein during the reeling opera-- tion, the need for using a comb preliminary to the lacing operation is eliminated, thus avoiding damage caused by comb .teeth. Moreover, because of the regularity in the number, size and location 0 the openings, it is possible to utilize automatic skein-lacing mechanism. Accordingly the parts of the machine have been so arranged with relation to one another, that a skein-lacing mechanism may be supported above the reel in position to operate upon the portion of the skein which extends between two adjacent arms 21 at the upper side of the reel.

v Means of any preferred character may be employed to stop the machine when the desired amount of yarn has been wound upon the reel. Herein I have indicated a clock mechanism 107 (Fig. 4) connected through a link 108to the upwardlyextending arm of a bell crank 109 whichis secured to the. left I end of a rock shaft 110 journale'd in the magroups of pre-forme been wound into the skeins the clock mechamsm 107 draws the link 108 forward, thus ar:

' hand end of the rock shaft 110. To the lever 113 is connected a'link 114'having a slot 115 in its lower end. A lever 116 is pivoted in the machine frame at 117. The rear end of the lever 116 has a pin 118 that extends through the slot 115. A contractile spring 119 yieldingly holds the pin 118 against the upper end wall of the slot. On the forward end of the lever 116 is a hook 120 ada ted to engage a lug 121 on the arm83. V$hen the clock mechanism operates to stop the machine, the hook 120 is pressed down against the lug 121 through the action of the .link 114 and spring 119. Depression of the treadle 88 to place the gear wheel 35 in neutral position will move the lug 121 rearwardly just far enough to allow the hook 120 to slip down in-front of it, whereby thegear wheel will be locked in neutral position. Theop erator may then set the lacing mechanism in operation to lace the portions of the skeins which areat the upper side of the reel. The

lacing having been inserted into the skeins 'at that point, the operator turns the reel manually through ninety degrees to. bring the next succeeding group of openings into position to receive a lacing. These operations' are repeated until the lacing has been inserted in each of the regions L, LT, L and and L All of the skeins having been laced, the operator collapses the reel by. pulling the handle 24 to the right, whereupon the skeins are slipped off the right-hand end of the reel, the latter, it will be remembered, being supportedonly at its left-hand end.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for (produclng a skein with openings therein, said machine comprising a reel, a yarn traverse guide to lay the yarn on the reel, a rotary cam for reciprocatingflthe guide, and means for rotating the reel and the 'cam at a ratio of one revolution of the cam to a certain number of revolutions of the reel, said number of revolutions being one more than the numberof openings in each group plus a fraction equal to one divided by the number of groups of openings.

'2. A machine forproducing a ske n wlth groups of pre-formed openings therein, said chine frame. The forwardly extending arminachine comprising, a reel, a yarn traverse of the bell crank 109 terminates in a hook 111 adapted ,to engage a lug 112 on the rock'shaft cam for reciprocating the guide, and means 64 in order .to stop its oscillatory movement.

When the predetermined amount of yarn has guide to lay the yarn on the reel, a rotary for rotating the reel and the cam at a ratio of one revolution of the cam to a certain number of revolutions of the reel, said number of revolutions differing from the number of openings in each group plus one by a fraction equal to one divided by the number of groups-of" openings.

3. A skein-reeling machine" comprising a reel ,a yarn traverse guide to ,lay the yarn on the reel, a rotary cam for reciprocating the guide, and means for rotating the reel and the cam at a ratio of four revolutions of the cam to twenty-one revolutions of the reel, the

cam being constructed to produce six strokesof the'guide in each revolution of-the cam. 4. The process of producing a skeinwith groups of pre-formed openings therein which consists in imparting to theyarn a certain number of complete traverses while the skeinis being revolved a certain number of times,

the number of revolutions differing from the number of openings in each group plus one by a fraction equal to one divided by the number of groups of openings.

5. The process of producing a skein with 1 groups of pre-formed openings therein which consists in imparting to the yarn a certain number of complete traverses while the skein is being revolved a certain number of times, the number of revolutions being one more than the number of openings in eachgroup .plus a fraction equal to one divided by thenumber of groups ofopenings.

6. The processof producing a four equidistant groups of openings, each group being composed of four openings of a proximately the same size and unifor y spaced apart, and all groups being alike in t e spacing of the openings in the direction parallel to the axis of the skein, which process consists in imparting to the yarn twentyfour complete traverses while the skein i's 'being revolved twenty-one times.

groups bein erentially'o the skein, the openings of each group being of approximately the same size -7. A skein composedof yarn wound to produce a plurality of groups of openings, said equidistantly. spaced circumand bein uniformlgespaced apart, all groups being ali e in num r of openings, and corresponding openings inall groups lying in the same plane transverse to the? axis of the skein.

8. A skein having a plurality of groups of openings,said groups being equidistantly spaced circumferentially of the skein, said skein being composed of a plurality of duplicate superposed" windings, successive windings being displaced circumferentially a distance equal to the distancebetween groups of openinge.

I w ereof, I have hereunto af-. fixed my signature. w m

In testimony RUSSELLP. DRAKE.

skein having 

